Everyone has seen Duncan, the fluffiest dog ever, wandering around campus. But have you paid much attention to his owner? Mark Berkson is a Religion Professor here at Hamline University, and there is a lot more to him than simply being ‘the man who walks Duncan.’

“For me, the source of the greatest joy and fulfillment is always in the classroom and in the relationships to students,” Berkson said.

Berkson’s academic focus is in the religious traditions of east and south Asia; he teaches courses about Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto. He is also very passionate about animal rights and drug policy reforms, about which he teaches first-year seminars on alternating years.

Berkson seeks to maintain an open and enthusiastic atmosphere while teaching. “I think in the classroom we share ourselves… I don’t hold too much back,” Berkson said. “I guess if people see me in the classroom only, maybe they don’t know how important quiet and contemplative practices are to me… I do deeply value these opportunities to go inward, to meditate and to recharge.”

One of the ways he does this is through sharing time with his beloved dog, Duncan.

“He’s a gentle, sweet, loving, affectionate, social boy. He just has enriched our lives in ways I can’t express,” Berkson said. “His energy is great for people who are stressed out. You can’t be in the presence of and petting a dog that’s so fluffy, gentle and affectionate and not just feel more relaxed.”

Berkson was quick to joke about his other family members as well. “I also have human family members; I should mention them, right?”

All joking aside, Berkson did go on to sing the praises of his family members, both the two- and four-legged members. Besides his two sons and two cats, Tiger and Sweet Pea, Berkson mentioned how important his wife is to him.

“My wife Laura and I have been married since 1996,” Berkson said, “anything that I am able to do and accomplish here is made possible because of her support and help.

Berkson might have made an impact on Hamline’s campus, but it seems it has left its mark on him as well.

“These relationships can truly last a lifetime. Some of the things that make me happiest are hearing from alumni and hearing how they’re thriving,” Berkson said.

He also went on to note how impressed he is with the students.

“The students here understand how much value there is in putting yourself fully in your studies; these students don’t take it for granted. They understand how important it is to have this opportunity, this period of time to cultivate skills that will serve them the rest of their lives and to just have the space in life to engage in really deep conversation about very important things with your classmates and faculty who have dedicated their lives to studying these things,” Berkson said.

Paired with this appreciation for student engagement is Berkson’s appreciation of the liberal arts education.

“I’m delighted that people can see the importance and value of a liberal education,” Berkson said.  “But I feel a really heightened sense of urgency about that now, given what’s going on with the country. I really do feel the vast majority of students here are incredibly engaged.”

Perhaps this belief in the liberal arts stems from Berkson’s own educational journey. He began his college career as a molecular biology major but fell in love with Chinese culture and rabbit-holed all the way to East Asian studies.

“The religion classes really connected with me,” Berkson said, “what we were talking about and studying are the most important issues one could possibly think about… all these big, big questions I thought about all the time now I get to talk about them in seminar rooms reading these great texts.”

At the end of the day, Berkson holds two concepts close to his heart as the best advice he can give to any student.

“Make an effort to really form relationships with faculty… and never lose the sense of wonder and the joy of learning.”